Barcelona Femini is European champion: Putellas and Co. cementing ‘giant’ status one win after another

Patri Guijarro struck twice as Barcelona produced a surprising comeback to beat Wolfsburg 3-2 and clinch a second Women’s Champions League trophy. The Catalans have been two targets down on the break however hit again strongly to triumph in Eindhoven, with Fridolina Rolfö stroking residence the winner with 20 minutes remaining.

Barcelona secured victory with two-time Ballon d’Or winner Alexia Putellas on the bench till the ultimate levels, as she continues to seek out kind after the knee harm which sidelined her for a lot of the season.

Barcelona displayed their psychological development as they conquered Europe for the second time. This after struggling a defeat labelled “traumatic” by captain Alexia Putellas in opposition to Lyon in final season’s closing.

Coach Jonathan Giraldez mentioned that sort of steely mentality was one thing which the staff had been engaged on attaining this season.

“In football there are sometimes more important things, it’s not enough just to play well,” Giraldez advised reporters.

“Today, character was key. They did not let themselves sink. They came out with an incredible attitude and that is important.

“We have worked on that through the season, that in the bad moments you have to give the best version of yourself.”

Defeat would have been an enormous set-back, with the membership decided to dominate ladies’s soccer, reaching 4 of the final 5 finals.

Barcelona performed their first Champions League closing in 2019, when Lyon steamrollered them 4-1, netting 4 targets inside the primary half-hour.

They received their second in 2021, inflicting the identical distress on Chelsea — hitting 4 by the thirty sixth minute.

Last season it was their flip to break down in opposition to Lyon, conceding three within the first 33 minutes, with Putellas pulling one again in a 3-1 defeat.

After Ewa Pajor and Alexandra Popp struck early on for Tommy Stroot’s Wolfsburg, historical past gave the impression to be repeating itself as soon as extra.

Barcelona’s mentality isn’t the identical now because it was then, although, with the membership taking steps ahead every year of their bid to steer ladies’s soccer within the 2020s, as document eight-time winners Lyon did within the 2010s.